''Escadrille Spa.102'' (earlier unit designations being ''Escadrille BR.17'', ''Escadrille VB.2'', ''Escadrille VB102'', ''Escadrille N.102'') was a French fighter squadron founded in 1913. It served throughout the First World War in a variety of aircraft types, claiming 85 aerial victories, of which 18 were approved.

History

''Escadrille Spa.102'' was ''Escadrille BR.17'' when it was founded in 1913 because it was fitted with Bréguets. On 18 October 1914, it became ''Escadrille VB.2'' when it was resupplied with

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s; in November, it was redesignated ''Escadrille VB102''. The unit's operations during the early months of World War I are unknown except for a mention of St. Cyr. However, on 17 June 1916, while it was stationed at Malzeville, it re-equipped with

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s, changing its name to ''Escadrille N.102''.''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 103 On 22 July 1916, the squadron moved to the ''II Armee'' sector. On 17 January 1917 it was shifted to the vicinity of the

Marne River The Marne () is a river in France, an eastern tributary of the Seine in the area east and southeast of Paris. It is long. The river gave its name to the departments of Haute-Marne, Marne, Seine-et-Marne, and Val-de-Marne. The Marne starts in t ...

. In early April, it moved to the ''IV Armee'' sector. It accompanied ''IV Armee'' to

Flanders Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...

on 1 July, staying until 15 December. ''Escadrille N.102'' ended 1917 and began 1918 by moving to the ''1er Armee'' on 14 January. On 1 April 1918, the squadron refitted with SPAD fighters, and gained its final name of ''Escadrille Spa.102''. It would use its new fighters to aid ''VI Armee'' until 23 September. Two days later, it returned to ''1er Armee'', where it remained until war's end. During the war, ''Escadrille Spa.102'' claimed 85 aerial victories, although only 18 of these were ever verified.

Commanding officers

* ''Capitaine'' de Laborde: November 1914 * ''Capitaine'' Armand des Prez de la Morlais: 27 March 1915 * ''Chef de Bataillon'' Pouderoux: Early 1916 * Lieutenant Jean Derode: 16 January 1917 - 24 March 1918 * ''Capitaine'' Roger Lemercier de Maisoncelle-Vertille de Richemont: 24 March 1918 - 25 September 1918 * ''Capitaine'' Andre d'Humeries: 25 September 1918 - 11 November 1918

Aircraft

* Breguets: 1913 *

s: 18 October 1914 - November 1914 *

s: 18 June 1916 - 1 April 1918 * SPADs: 1 April 1918 - 11 November 1918

End notes

References

* Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank (1993). ''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'' London, UK: Grub Street Publishing. . Fighter squadrons of the French Air and Space Force Military units and formations established in 1913 Military units and formations disestablished in 1918 Military units and formations of France in World War I Military aviation units and formations in World War I {{France-mil-unit-stub